Whispering Buddha, by Tree Pruitt
I began with a pale parchment colored acrylic paint in lazy crossed strokes with a half inch paintbrush. The design has no symmetry, with everything being slightly out of balance to add the feeling of motion when standing in front of the painting; This also expresses the spiritual concept of individual portions creating a balanced whole. I moved to using Titanium White paint, without wiping the brush, and picked up a tiny bit of Thalo Blue (blue shade) to allow natural mixing. Using smaller brushes, I added a tiny bit of Purple and acrylic gel medium for blending. Areas of acrylic paint that do not have gel medium added will drag and sort of pull on a brush loaded with straight acrylic paint. Adding a bit of the gel medium will make the paint slide over previous layers and more translucent, depending on the amount used. The slight shade of yellow to the Parchment color mixed well with Titanium White and the Thalo Blue to create a soft Blue-Green Turquoise for the deepest shadow areas. To play off of that Blue-Green, and add some more warmth, I used a touch of Cadmium Red for the bindi spot over the third eye, and softer still in the cheek bone shadows. Thick strokes of Titanium White add a further sense of motion and greater depth overall for a small painting that glow from all the way across the room.
It's been terribly difficult for me to capture the brightness of this painting in a photograph. This is one of those pieces that really does look better in person. Perhaps I'll try shooting again on a day with better light. I really enjoyed painting in these subtle tones though, so I will likely continue despite having a hard time showing them to you at best.
Visit my Fine Art store for this and other new paintings.
It's been terribly difficult for me to capture the brightness of this painting in a photograph. This is one of those pieces that really does look better in person. Perhaps I'll try shooting again on a day with better light. I really enjoyed painting in these subtle tones though, so I will likely continue despite having a hard time showing them to you at best.
Visit my Fine Art store for this and other new paintings.
*Original art images ©Tree Pruitt, unless otherwise indicated. Contact the artist prior to ANY use or for purchase information.
I stumbled across your website while searching for artists and your Buddha piece really caught my eye! I am an art student from Palatine, IL. This piece seemed so interesting to me because my fiancé is a Buddhist and we have been looking for Buddhist or other religious art pieces. Although I grew up a Christian, I find the Buddhist religion very intriguing. I plan to convert one day so I can have a Buddhist wedding. I really like the colors you used, how the painting transfers from warmer undertones of red to a cooler teal. You mentioned that the photograph of your paintings does not do it justice, but I believe your painting is a wonderful piece of artwork just by looking at the photograph . I looked at your painting below as well, of the purple poppies and I must say that you really have an eye for color. I wish you the best of luck with your future paintings!
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